Schools & Education

As one of the largest accountancy teams in the UK focused on schools, we are here to provide effective and reassuring support. The schools sector faces challenging times, with significant financial uncertainty. Through our award-winning multi-disciplinary team, we bring timely practical advice to well over 100 charity and corporate-run independent schools, many independent school sector bodies, and academies.

Get in touch

Why haysmacintyre?

The affordability of schools fees, balanced against the challenges of rising costs in areas such as compliance, regulations and pensions, makes running a school a difficult tightrope to walk. We understand these pressures affect your day to day operations and outlook, so our specialist team is always ready to help with the right advice, at the right time.

With the constant need to secure and build your income and add more, we can help with both immediate and long-term aspects. Our tax team has an in-depth understanding of the schools sector, especially in areas such as Employment Tax and VAT. As HMRC scrutiny becomes ever more intense, we will work hard to ensure you are well-prepared to withstand it.

Who do we help?

  • Charitable independent schools
  • Corporate-run independent schools
  • Academies
  • Independent school sector bodies
Get in touch

We are well-known for our robust and efficient audits. Our approach is designed to ensure all key risks are highlighted at the earliest opportunity and will be delivered to meet all your needs within your reporting timetable. Auditing is obviously a major part of our work for schools, including internal audits for academies. Yet we offer knowledgeable and helpful advice on so many more of the issues that face you.

Our services

  • Audit and assurance (external and internal)
  • Tax advice including Gift Aid and VAT
  • Corporation Tax and Employment Tax compliance
  • Trading activities and benefits planning
  • Negotiations with HMRC
  • Strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence
  • Financial modelling, management and monitoring
  • Financial benchmarking and reporting

Building for the future

The here and now is important, but survival depends on effective financial modelling and sustainability. Many schools are seeking to consolidate their strength through mergers and acquisitions, and we are thoroughly conversant with all the processes and exacting in our approach to due diligence.

When deeper financial advice is required, we can provide a holistic solution by putting you in touch with experts from our extensive network of contacts. Whether directly or in conjunction with these trusted firms, we make sure you benefit from a joined-up and effective service.

Working together

We build successful relationships with schools by not only providing exceptional expertise, but also consistently high quality service. We are proactive and will sometimes challenge you, but in a supportive and constructive way.

To share our expertise, we are very active in events and seminars, create training programmes for school bursars, governors and charity trustees, and regularly produce thought leadership articles, benchmarking reports and governance surveys.

Your feedback is important to us, so we will listen closely and respond appropriately. Through rigorous processes, a genuine interest in your success and a determination to build on it, we aim to create a long-standing relationship with you.

Schools Briefing – Autumn 2023

With another school year well underway, we look at some of the current political and environmental factors that could potentially impact the sector. Our first guest author, Simon Bulleyment, Director at Sibrossa Ltd, tackles one of the most prominent concerns for schools currently – cyber security. In his article, Simon addresses the risks and shares […]

Schools Briefing – ISBA Conference 2023

Firstly, Tracey Young, Partner and Head of Education, comments on the results from the latest haysmacintyre Independent Schools Management Survey. With a return to operational normality in 2021/22 academic year, new challenges faced independent schools with significant rising costs and cost of living pressures and Tracey considers how schools should focus on building their financial […]

Charity and Not for Profit eNews

The latest edition of our Charity and Not for Profit eNews is now available to download by clicking on the button below and visiting our publications page.

We have been very impressed with their performance, delivery and professionalism since moving to them some three years ago following a tender process. Their sector knowledge is excellent, and this, coupled with the broader technical specialisms they offer, provide us with the level of audit and advisory service we both need and have to be able to evidence to external regulatory parties.

Bursar and Head of Finance

Independent school

Tracey Young

Partner, Head of Education
Email Tracey
View the team
Events
Private Client

Green Horizons – navigating towards a sustainable future

20th March 2024
haysmacintyre offices
Events
Not for Profit

Trustee Training: Charity Law Update

26th March 2024
Online
Events

Future Gen FES – Becoming a successful leader

9th April 2024
haysmacintyre, 10 Queen St Pl, London EC4R 1AG

Insights

See all of our latest news related to Schools & Education.

View more related latest
Publications
Education
Schools Briefing – Spring 2024

This edition of our schools briefing looks at some political and environmental considerations which may...

Read more
Publications
Education
Schools Briefing – Autumn 2023

With another school year well underway, we look at some of the current political and...

Read more
Insights
Education
Harpur Trust v Brazel Supreme Court Decision

The Supreme Court published their long-awaited decision yesterday (20 July 2022) regarding the Harpur Trust v Brazel...

Read more
Insights
Education
Colchester Institute Corporation – Business or Non-Business?

CIC had assumed that it was carrying out grant funded, non-business activities and acted accordingly....

Read more
Insights
Corporate
Uncertain tax treatment

A requirement to notify also exists if a provision has been made in the accounts...

Read more
Insights
Education
Generous tax breaks for schools

There are significant opportunities for tax paying schools to benefit from generous capital allowances when...

Read more
Publications
Education
Schools Briefing – Spring 2024

This edition of our schools briefing looks at some political and environmental considerations which may...

Read more
Publications
Education
Schools Briefing – Autumn 2023

With another school year well underway, we look at some of the current political and...

Read more
Insights
Education
Harpur Trust v Brazel Supreme Court Decision

The Supreme Court published their long-awaited decision yesterday (20 July 2022) regarding the Harpur Trust v Brazel...

Read more
Insights
Education
Colchester Institute Corporation – Business or Non-Business?

CIC had assumed that it was carrying out grant funded, non-business activities and acted accordingly....

Read more
Insights
Corporate
Uncertain tax treatment

A requirement to notify also exists if a provision has been made in the accounts...

Read more
Insights
Education
Generous tax breaks for schools

There are significant opportunities for tax paying schools to benefit from generous capital allowances when...

Read more
Publications
Education
Schools Briefing – Spring 2024

This edition of our schools briefing looks at some political and environmental considerations which may...

Read more
Charity and Not for Profit eNews
Publications
Not for Profit
Charities and Not for Profit eNews

The latest edition of our Charity and Not for Profit eNews is now available to...

Read more
Publications
Education
Schools Briefing – Autumn 2023

With another school year well underway, we look at some of the current political and...

Read more
Charity and Not for Profit eNews
Publications
Not for Profit
Charities and Not for Profit eNews

The latest edition of our Charity and Not for Profit eNews is now available to...

Read more
Charity and Not for Profit eNews
Publications
Not for Profit
Charities and Not for Profit eNews

The latest edition of our Charity and Not for Profit eNews is now available to...

Read more
Charity and Not for Profit eNews
Publications
Not for Profit
Charity and Not for Profit eNews

The latest edition of our Charity and Not for Profit eNews is now available to...

Read more

Schools Briefing – Autumn 2021

Publication
Education
View the standard version.

haysmacintyre’s Schools Briefing – Spring 2021

Publication
Education
View the standard version.

Academies Accounts Direction 2020-21: What has changed?

Publication
Education
View the standard version.
View all publications

Awards and Accreditations

Accounting Excellence Large Firm of the Year 2023
eprivateclient top accountancy firm 2023

Get in touch